Visa Procedure for Parents, College of Engineering Graduating Ceremony at SJSU.

Hello Spartans!!

 It is really a proud moment whether or not you being the first person to achieve Highest degree in your Family. Everyone dream of studying abroad and here you go! Its time for the party as you have achieved a milestone through the Master's degree at SJSU! Go Spartans! College of EngineeringThis post is especially for people who are planning to invite their parents for the Graduation Ceremony! . Parents can get VISA Very easily .

College of Engineering can provide you with a letter stating that you will be graduating as a proof for your family to attend your graduation. Send an email to Sanela.Latic@sjsu.edu and include the following info:
Your full name 
List whether you are male or female 
Student ID number 
List full names of family members who plan to attend and include their date of birth.

The letter needs to be signed by the dean and that may take a few weeks, please plan accordingly. You will receive an e-mail when your letter is ready for a pick up. Last minute requests will not be accepted.

The procedure for Visa for your parents is as follows :

1. Visa type : B2 ( Validity period would be 10 years and maximum length they can stay in US is 6 months).
2. Take letter from IPS and department( stated above).
3. Fill DS-160 form ( Here is the instructional video that i have made :  and ask your parents to pay VISA fees.
5. Book the VISA Appointment after filling out DS-160 form. Instructions are in this video in a detail manner

4. Documents required for VISA interview : DS-160 confirmation page, Appointment letter, fees receipt, passport. Supporting documents IPS and department letter, their birth certificate(not mandatory), marriage certificate(since they both will go to take VISA together).

Your Documents: Passport, VISA, I94, state ID or any US identity proof, I20, transcript.

5. Bank balance ( atleast $10,000) as a proof that they are sponsoring themselves for the trip. If there are many family members coming then funding needs to be appropriate enough ( high enough to cover all the expenses of the trip).

and That's all!

I hope this helps you, feel free to share this post with your near and dear! if you have any questions, don't forget to comment! Wishing you All the best!!

Go Spartans!

P.s. Tell your parents to answer the Visa officer ( if asked) saying that they are going to be here for graduation ceremony and around 25 days. but in reality they don't really care unless it exceeds 6 months. Legally they are allowed to stay for 6 months.

Here are some other useful posts for you!

1. Methods of Fee payment : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/09/methods-for-payment-of-fee-by.html

2. How to apply for California Driver's License : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-to-apply-for-california-dl.html

3. Getting SSN : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/09/all-about-ssn.html

4. Internships OPT's at SJSU : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/08/all-about-cpts-and-opts-at-san-jose.html

5. Exploring Resources at SJSU : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/08/exploring-resources-at-san-jose-state.html

6. On-Campus Jobs at SJSU : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/08/getting-on-campus-job-at-san-jose-state.html

7. How to get SJSU Tower card and VTA Pass( free transportation around sjsu with this pass)  : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/08/how-to-get-sjsu-email-newly-admitted.html

IEEE Digital Library Access off-campus for SJSU students.

Hello Spartans!

Did you know that You will get full access IEEE Digital library ( free access to all ieee papers, publications, journals online )  while you are on the Campus LAN,WIFI. Now, this post will help you have access to these same resources off campus!
 Ever wondered how you can get access of the IEEE Digital library ( free access to all ieee papers, publications, journals online ) on to your Computer/laptop without using tightvnc or someother remote softwares?

Here is how you can do it.

You will need your :
1. SJSU Id #.
2. Library PIN ( if you have one)

To get access click on this link : http://libaccess.sjlibrary.org/login?url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/MAP.2012.6293953

and the following window should popup :

enter the details. and you click "Submit"  . then it should redirect you to the IEEE Explorer website as follows :

And that's the sign that shows that you have been granted access!! :)

P.S if you don't have PIN, go to Library and make one!

I hope this helps you.

Here are some most important posts you might have not seen :

1.     SJSU students get FREE TAX RETURN FILING : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2015/03/tax-return-filing.html

2.      Methods of Fee payment : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/09/methods-for-payment-of-fee-by.html

3.     How to apply for California Driver's License : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-to-apply-for-california-dl.html

4.     Getting SSN : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/09/all-about-ssn.html

5.     Internships OPT's at SJSU : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/08/all-about-cpts-and-opts-at-san-jose.html

6.     Exploring Resources at SJSU : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/08/exploring-resources-at-san-jose-state.html

7.     On-Campus Jobs at SJSU : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/08/getting-on-campus-job-at-san-jose-state.html

8.     How to get SJSU Tower card and VTA Pass( free transportation around sjsu with this pass)  : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/08/how-to-get-sjsu-email-newly-admitted.html

Go Spartans!!!

FILING TAX RETURN at SJSU !! EASY AND FREE!!

Hello Spartan!

A quick update for 2016. :

If your annual income is below $53,000 per annum, this post will help you file the tax return for FREE and this will be applicable if you are a currently enrolled SJSU Student.  There are only 2 Places in San Jose, where the tax filing is offered FREE ! DONOT  go for some other tax companies like turbotax etc., they treat you as a resident and file the tax return ( of course you will get most of the tax returned but it is illegal if you are a resident alien and use those private tax return firms to file your tax returns . You might need to bare consequences( penalties) if you do file as a resident if you are actually not! ) . The 2 places i mentioned earlier are Govt approved places. You will get shocked that it is such an easy procedure. it will take max of 45 min. The Venues are :


1) Sacred Heart Foundation.
 1381 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95110
Timings :  Tues - Fri 4pm - 8pm.
                Sat - 10am- 2 pm.

2) Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
2020 E San Antonio St, San Jose, CA 95116
Timings : SAT - 10am - 1pm.

The Documents you might need to carry are : 
1. Your Passport ( actually if you know your passport number you don't need to CARRY it ) 
2. SSN ( Original copy should be taken. NO Xerox copy . They will just verify and give it back to you) .
3. W-2 Forms ( if you are employed in different places on campus or off-campus ( CPT/OPT) during the academic year, your employer will send you this form. Take all of those forms if you have many employers issuing w-2 forms)

and that's all you need! 

PS. if you have already filed tax return using other companies, then you can cancel it and file back again or, make an appointment with above places and tell them to change your status to appropriate residential status. 

If you are a US resident then there are lot of centers to file the tax returns. you can go to any of above two centers, or you can find centers appropriate to your timings : http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/

Please do not go at the closing time like 15 min before they closes. Try to go an hour early before they close or as soon as they opens. I would suggest you to go to the 1st center mentioned above as it is very close to the campus and has frequent public transport to get there.

I hope this post Helps you!

If you have any furthur questions, feel free to comment below!

Here are some more important posts that will help you alot if you haven't gone through them! Feel free to share with your fellow SPARTANS!!

1. Methods of Fee payment : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/09/methods-for-payment-of-fee-by.html

2. How to apply for California Driver's License : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-to-apply-for-california-dl.html

3. Getting SSN : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/09/all-about-ssn.html

4. Internships OPT's at SJSU : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/08/all-about-cpts-and-opts-at-san-jose.html

5. Exploring Resources at SJSU : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/08/exploring-resources-at-san-jose-state.html

6. On-Campus Jobs at SJSU : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/08/getting-on-campus-job-at-san-jose-state.html

7. How to get SJSU Tower card and VTA Pass( free transportation around sjsu with this pass)  : http://iso-sjsu.blogspot.com/2014/08/how-to-get-sjsu-email-newly-admitted.html

Go Spartans!!!